Related Articles

Russia says it will withdraw support for the International Space Station by the end of the decade, in response to U.S. sanctions imposed on Moscow for annexing Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Rogozin announced the move Tuesday, saying the Kremlin will also bar the United States from operating GPS satellite navigation system sites in Russian territories beginning in June. Additionally, Rogozin said Moscow will bar Washington from using Russian-made rocket engines to launch military satellites.

The latest Russian sanctions come as the United States moves forward with plans to deny export licenses for high-technology items that could aid Russia's military.

In rejecting a U.S. request to prolong use of the space station to 2024, Rogozin called Washington "an unreliable partner...which politicizes everything."

Russian Soyuz spacecraft have carried all astronauts to and from the space station since 2011, when the United States ended its space shuttle project.

Moscow on Tuesday also repeated demands to the Kyiv government for a June 2 pre-payment of nearly $1.7 billion, for next month's natural gas shipment to Ukraine. The pre-payment demand was first announced last week, when Moscow said energy-dependent Ukraine missed a May 7 deadline to pay down its $3.5 billion energy debt.

In Brussels Tuesday, interim Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said his government is "ready for a market-based approach" to gas pricing; but, he demanded that Moscow stop using gas as "a new type of Russian weapon."

It remains unclear what impact the pre-payment demand will have on the 28-nation European Union. Russia supplies about 30 percent of western Europe's natural gas needs, with about half of those supplies passing through Ukraine.

The United States and its European allies have imposed visa bans, asset freezes and other penalties on a long list of Russian corporate leaders and advisers close to President Vladimir Putin, since Moscow voted to annex the Crimean peninsula in March.

Mixed-race comedian Trevor Noah, who is loved for his edgy jibes about race and language, is taking the helm from Jon Stewart at The Daily Show in US More

This forum has been closed.

Comment Sorting

Comments

by: Gennady from: Russia, Volga Region

May 13, 2014 10:04 PM

I don't think the "sanctions" from the Space should be viewed seriously by current White House Administration. Every speech about Russia Mr. Obama have been starting off with his mantra about Russia as a third rate country, a regional insignificant power and so on. So, the USA that has become great under Mr. Obama will just ignore 'the sanctions' and proceed further in his rhetoric and deeds. The USA sanctions that have been already been imposed on "third rate Russia" served as a wake-up call for the "Russian Bear" after prolonged slumber. The USA under Mr. Obama has become a safe heaven for abducting Russian children as in the last example with a mother in her fourth marriage to an American national. Her name is Orlova Elena Evgenyevna, born October 1969, third time divorced three years ago. With her two Russian born children Orlov Artemy Ilyich, born June 30, 1997 and daughter Orlova Veronica Ilyinichna, born December 25, 2006 she feels safe hidden in the USA.

by: Dell Stator from: US

May 13, 2014 8:41 PM

Agreed, US space policy to save a few bucks and improve US Russia relations by outsourcing to Russia was, no other word, idiotic. A scheme invented by the State Dept head in the sand types and penny wise pound short Bean Counters. Where was our leadership while this was going on, trying to score brownie points arguing over the latest budget deadlock, again, and ...... instead of paying attention to US NATIONAL INTERESTS. Double NASA's budget Tomorrow and reinstate the entire manned space mission - if need be dust off Apollo to get men up until private companies come on line, and help them by offering billion dollar prize to first one to do it by say, 2020

by: AmericanHorseman from: America

May 13, 2014 8:27 PM

Thanks to Obama. I wonder if the rest of the World knows how much Obama is hated here in America. My guess is that they have no idea.

by: Not Again from: Canada

May 13, 2014 5:36 PM

One of the biggests scientific space development failures of the Obama administration = not to ensure that a replacement space vehicle engine/launcher were fully operational; same applies to the space shuttle they should not have been scrapped. This is what occurrs when people do not carry detailed and factual risk analysis, or just ignore it.Critical strategic programs should never be sold out, just to save a few dollars. Thousands of great US workers, that had earned huge accolades over the decades of space exploration, were put out of work/thrown under the bus, based on some very faulty advice, at best, and at worst not listening to those that are experts in the field; a sorting way/decision making way we observe on some other strategic failure issues, this one goes clearly on shoulders of the current administration; at least one full heavy launch system facility and at least two space shuttle system, for contingencies, should have been left fully operational, until replaced, and the large rocket engine and launch vehicles also should have continued production until totally US built replacements were fully operational. The entire ISS/satellite program is at full risk. These situations were fully predictable, with just a bit of common sense, and a brief review of history. VERY SAD OUTCOME!

At this year's annual South by Southwest film and music festival in Austin, Texas, some musicians from Mali were on hand to promote a film about how their lives were upturned by jihadists who destroyed ancient treasures in the city of Timbuktu and prohibited anyone from playing music under threat of death. As VOA’s Greg Flakus reports from Austin, some are afraid to return to their hometowns even though the jihadists are no longer in control there.

Video

At this year's annual South by Southwest film and music festival in Austin, Texas, some musicians from Mali were on hand to promote a film about how their lives were upturned by jihadists who destroyed ancient treasures in the city of Timbuktu and prohibited anyone from playing music under threat of death. As VOA’s Greg Flakus reports from Austin, some are afraid to return to their hometowns even though the jihadists are no longer in control there.

Video

American warplanes joined Iraq's battle against the so-called 'Islamic State' in northern Iraq late Wednesday, as Iraqi ground troops launched a massive assault on Tikrit. Analysts say the offensive could take the coalition a step further towards Mosul, the largest city held by Islamic State forces. Others say it could also deepen already-dangerous sectarian tensions in the region. VOA's Heather Murdock has more from Cairo.

Video

Tourism is a multi-billion dollar industry in the Philippines. Close to five million foreign visitors traveled there last year, perhaps lured by the country’s tropical beaches. But Jason Strother reports from Manila that the country hopes to entice more travelers to stay indoors and spend money inside new casinos.

Video

The continued fighting in eastern Ukraine and the shelling of civilian neighborhoods seem to be pushing more men to join the separatist fighters. Many of the new recruits are residents of Ukraine made bitter by new grievances, as well as old. VOA's Patrick Wells reports.

Video

Islamic State fighter, a prisoner of Kurdish YPG forces, asked his family asking for forgiveness: "I destroyed myself and I destroyed them along with me." The Syrian youth was one of two detainees who spoke to VOA’s Kurdish Service about the path they chose; their names have been changed and identifying details obscured. VOA's Zana Omer reports.

Video

More is being discovered about the co-pilot in the crash of Germanwings Flight 9525 in the French Alps. Investigators say he was hiding a medical condition, raising questions about the mental qualifications of pilots. VOA's Carolyn Presutti reports.

Video

In cities with heavily congested traffic, people can get around much faster on a motorcycle than in a car. But a rider who is not sure of his route may have to stop to look at the map or consult a GPS. A Russian start-up company is working to make navigation easier for motorcyclists. Designers at Moscow-based LiveMap are developing a smart helmet with a built-in navigation system, head-mounted display and voice recognition. Zlatica Hoke has more.

Video

U.S. federal law enforcement agents arrested two suburban Chicago men accused of trying to join ISIS overseas, while also plotting attacks in the United States. As VOA’s Kane Farabaugh reports from the Midwest state of Illinois, one of those arrested is a soldier of the Illinois National Guard.

Video

Traditional push-rim wheelchairs create a lot of stress for arm, shoulder and neck muscles and joints. A redesigned chair, based on readily available bicycle technology, radically increases mobility while reducing the physical effort. VOA’s George Putic reports.

Video

Beatrice Yardolo was to make history as Liberia’s last Ebola patient. Liberians recently started counting down 42 days, the period that has to go by without a single new infection until the World Health Organization can declare a country Ebola-free. That countdown stopped on March 20 when there was another new case of Ebola, making Yardolo’s story a reminder that Ebola is far from over. Benno Muchler reports from Monrovia.

Video

Indigenous communities in Cambodia's Ratanakiri province say the government’s economic land concession policy is taking away their land and traditional way of life, making many fear that their identity will soon be lost. Local authorities, though, have denied this is the case. VOA's Say Mony went to investigate and filed this report, narrated by Colin Lovett.

Video

One of the films that drew big crowds last week at the annual South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, tells the story of the last human being to stand on the moon, U.S. astronaut Eugene Cernan. It has been 42 years since Cernan returned from the moon and he laments that no one else has gone there since. VOA’s Greg Flakus reports.